Is ESPN+ Worth The Subscription Price?
In a world filled with streaming app options, it can feel overwhelming to find the right service for your entertainment needs. Even worse, for cord cutters, it can get expensive (fast) to have multiple streaming service memberships simultaneously. However, for sports lovers in particular, it can sometimes be necessary to have more than one service in order to get access to all of the different leagues and games you might be interested in watching. This might leave you wondering if there's another way.
As television networks continue to dole out more money every year for the rights to air live events like NFL games, it has become increasingly difficult to actually watch the games you might care about. Not to mention the difference between in-market and out-of-market games can make watching a team not in your geographic area feel impossible. In fact, according to CableTV.com, a consumer would need to have YouTube TV with NFL Sunday Ticket, Amazon Prime Video, ESPN+, Netflix, and Peacock in order to be able to watch all 272 live NFL games this season.
While some die-hard fans might be okay with having a full spread of streaming app subscriptions, others might be instead wondering if they could stick to a single sports app instead. This brings us to the ESPN+ app. When it comes to sports coverage, not many media brands have the same trusted cache as ESPN. While this name recognition has led some fans to assume ESPN+ could be the solution to their streaming troubles, subscribing to the app might not be worth it.
What an ESPN Plus subscription gets you
As of November 2024, an ESPN+ subscription costs $11.99 a month, or $119.99 a year with the service's annual plan. With that in mind, ESPN+ can be bundled a couple different ways with both the Disney+ and Hulu apps for more money. For those who are okay with ads in their streaming apps, you can get all three apps for a combined price of $16.99, or $26.99 a month for a bundle with no ads. Now, if you're wondering what content you actually get for that monthly fee, you might be disappointed.
The ESPN+ app offers thousands of exclusive live events (though only select live MLB, NHL, and NFL games) in addition to original studio shows and series. While the service can be streamed on a myriad of devices including mobile and TV options, its content is more limited than consumers might hope for. For instance, perhaps one of the biggest downsides of having an ESPN+ subscription is that it doesn't give you access to any of ESPN's traditional networks (to stream) or even access to the content aired on them after the fact.
Even with an ESPN+ subscription, the only way to access actual live ESPN content is to have a cable or satellite provider. Plus, while ESPN+ can get you access to the NFL's Monday Night Football game, it does not stream any other NFL games. This could be a significant deal breaker for cord-cutter sports fans who don't want the hassle of dealing with a cable provider. (See 13 things you've been paying too much for and didn't realize.)
Other competitive services
When it comes to sports specific apps, there aren't many choices. The FOX Sports app requires a paid TV provider to use, while NFL+ offers some live NFL games with restrictions. Namely, all live local and primetime regular and postseason games are only available on mobile phones or tablets through NFL+. This leaves fans forced to watch games on smaller screens, lacking both the physical comfort of watching on a TV and also the communal element of watching with friends.
Plus, for those who might care about the NBA, Premier League, NHL, or any other sports league, NFL-specific apps probably don't appeal. In these cases, the best option for cord cutters is to consider broader streaming services like Fubo, Sling TV, YouTubeTV, or Hulu + Live TV in order to gain access to live games across myriad channels. These services provide access to live TV channels, as opposed to a streaming-only-service focus, which allows you to access the television channels you'd gain access to with a cable subscription and/or digital antenna in your area.
While not sports-specific, these apps could provide enough coverage to fit your sports viewing needs. It's important to research what networks tend to carry the events and leagues you're hoping to watch, and to make sure the subscription service you're researching actually includes those networks before signing up for any specific services. Cost should also be an important consideration when researching app options (and remember that using autopay for subscriptions can cost you).